iRiver adds video to their H320 and H340 MP3 players

Giving a small sliver of hope to anyone who's optimistic that the iPod Photo is just a codec away from being turned into a video iPod, iRiver has just released a new firmware upgrade for the H320 and H340, (their new audio players that like the new iPod Photo, have color screens for looking at digital photo), that adds support for playback of XviD video files. There are just a few catches, like that it can only playback at maximum of 10 frames per second and that it can't play movies longer than an hour and forty minutes in length, but whatever, if you bought an H320 or an H340 you probably weren't expecting any video capability at all, right?

[Thanks, Phillip]

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[declan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Argh, buyers remorse kicks in, just bought the IRiver iHP120 thinking "I dont need a photo viewer so I'll get the old music only one and wait til video ones come out".

Great move by IRiver. What are the chances of Apple turning their Photo IPod into a Video IPod for free?

[Seth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I should probably get one now before stores use this as an excuse to jack up the price.

[Kevn Cunningham @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Is this for the american iriver h series? I don't see any firmware upgrades on the iriver site. If it's for other countries, will it mess up my american iriver if I install an new firmware from another country?

[Kai Cherry @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

the odds are slim to none that Apple would do this if the implemention is as crappy as iRiver's is.

So we have a two inch screen, lo res video not worth even watching on a tv, and at 10fps max?
Does that *sound* like an Apple solution...to anyone? :D

Its not about "features"...its about "best of breed" features...at least as far as the Apple corporate culture is concerned.

-K

[Pat @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I have scoured the iriver international and European websites and I cannot find this firmware upgrade. If anyone finds it could they post the link here. Cheers

[Greg @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

When the device has the ability to do it at 24 FPS (or whatever minimum movie frame rates are), I fully suspect that Apple or someone else will turn these into "video players". Its not so much that you want to watch movies on ITS screen, but I could certainly see people taking family movies, regular movies, and similar to hotels, family reunions, etc. and just plugging these devices into a projects or TV and watching them. Screen real estate isn't really the issue.

[Natxo Baraja @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Crappy implementation? You're very funny :) Video files at 220x176, 10 fps and XviD 1.0.2 look great on my H340 262,000-color 2" screen :)

Perfect to view some TV episodes or videoclips. A totally free upgrade for the H3x0 players and lots of helpful users all around the world at misticriver.net.

People may think it looks crappy, but they won't believe the quality achieved. Visit misticriver.net and download some of the clips. You won't regret it... except having bought a fashion player instead of a real geek device ;)

Some video clips:

http://www.misticriver.net/boards/showthread.php?t=5753

:)

[andrewmel @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

i bought the h320 for the fantastic music machine that it is. usbotg, photo viewer, included battery pack, using it as a portable hard drive, can take music on and OFF by plugging into any pc later than win98 without software were some of the extras that pushed the decision in favor of the iriver.

when the video came out i was a little surprised but expected to be dissapointed. but wow, the quality is much better than i expected. i have watched the starwars iii tralier and it looks fantastic, i have encoded a couple of other videos and they also look great.

it does take a little time to set virtualdub (open source software) up to encode the videos the first time, but after that it does it in about 10 mouse clicks, that includes opening and saving the video.

great move iriver, well implemented and a complete surprise. iriver service wins again.

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[Joshua @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Man I WANT this H320.I will not be a happy person util I get this player!

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

AAARRGG! Does anyone know where I can go online to buy a European version of the iriver H320 since the American version doesn't allow for (OTG) "on the go" digital camera-player compatibility? It's such a great idea, why would they take it away?!?! Please, if anyone knows where I can go online to get one from overseas that would be a great help. Thanks!

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Hey all. The best way to encode these movies is to go and download pocket divx encoder. this is the best way. files have to be broken down under and hour. to find the firmware go to google and search iriver h300 downloads. there is a site that tells you how to do it all. but dont use virtual dub. use pocket divx encoder.

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Just wondering if the firmware only allows video playback on h320 or later, bought a h300 today was hoping it would have some kind of video playback

[shane @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I too am frustrated at the H340's inability to download photos directly from my digital camera. I read you might be able to "use the European firmware to disable DRM and portable media support in favour of USB on-the-go", but I can't find any literature to support this.
Has anyone managed to get their US iRiver to be able to download photos on the go ?

[Gaston @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I'm just a weeks away from buying a H340, I've seen the H10 and I must say it is impressive as far as desing goes, but I found the only advantage versus the h300 series, is the external battery. And the looks, of course.
My question is, as many as you may been asking so far: Why the hell was the US version of the H300 series does not include on-the-go capability, as well as host support?
However, I've been thinking about the possibility of updating the h340's firmware to the European version. I mean, how can a company make 2 different players? Is an idiotic thought to remove such wonderful features while the european users can enjoy this fabulous player, fully featured?
My point is, that iRiver modified the firmware, and will void the warranty if you try to update your h340.
Is this whole matter a true manufacturer's issue, or is it just some marketing scam?
Anyone who can find information about US h340 using European H340 Firmware, please contact me at -> [e-mail]

Cheers.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I have become pretty convinced reading reviews of thre IRiver being a more useful product (eg with radio) than the IPod. Question is - is it fully compatible with an Apple Mac notebook? I know, most people have a PC and a Pod but I have to be different.....

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Reading the reviews seems like IRiver is the way to go over the IPod (I want a radio for starters). But is it fully compatible with my Apple Mac powerbook? Yes, most people have a PC and an IPod but I have to be different.

[thomas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Can anyone post a screenshot with the setting of virtual dub or divx decoder? (yes i know the post with tzhe settings here, but i still have problems..) Posts on [e-mail]

[mythos @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

Video support is nice! It's not for wathing movies, but for short stuff like music videos and shorter things.

Check out http://mythos.no/blogg/2005/05/lost-at-last-video-for-download.html

I made a iRiver H3xx version of a video I made for a metal band called Lost at Last.

[Jonathan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I bought an iriver h340, the picture quality is good but I have not found out how to play movies on it. Is it possible to play movies on it. If so how?

[Jonathan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I bought an iriver h340, the picture quality is good but I have not found out how to play movies on it. Is it possible to play movies on it. If so how? (please email me back at [e-mail]) Thank you for your time.

[Avraham Reiss @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I bought the iRivier H340 18th April 05. On 2nd June 05 it stopped working. I found on the web that others had suffered from identical symptoms. The shop that sold it contacted the importer whose reply was: 'the problem you reported occurred on the USA version, yours is the Eurpoean version which has never had this problem. Therefore we will not replace, only repair'.

The importer is a liar, I have proof that the problem occurs on both the European and Korean version, on both the H320 and H340.

You are warned not to buy an iRiver H3xx until the problem has been solved, and until importers begin to tell the truth (may take a long time!).

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

HELP hi guys i have H320 and i couldnt quite understood how to see movies
what kind of file types does it supporets please help me i need the movie to keep me alive in the army so please help

[e-mail]

[Russell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

hi guys i have a H340 and i understand that it can only play stuff at 10 frames per second for video, i was just wondering if anyone knows a program that would allow me to modify frame rate of video so that i can play them on the iriver?

[Lawson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

I am currently having a lot of software problems with the iriver H320 and am wondering if others have had the same or know what to do. I can't get a response from iriver itself (at least not yet) and am also trying to contact the people I bought it from. It has errors with cycle redundancy checks so I cannot transfer most of my music over. Other times I try to access the database by genre, artist, etc and it freezes up on me, requiring me to reset it. Any help would be appreciated greatly.

[master of the letter i @ Dec 19th 2005 12:05AM]

oh finding this is so depressing my iRiver h320 just got stolen and i was waiting on video capability, Damn you thief person damn you!

add me on msn: [e-mail]